MASTERS chiefs sparked outrage by hammering 14-year-old Tianlang Guan with a one-shot penalty for slow play that almost cost the Chinese youngster a place in the field for the weekend.

His four-over 148 score only just scraped under the cut line as he is still within 10 shots of leader Jason Day.

But while the penalty ultimately hasn’t cost Guan his place in history as the youngest Masters competitor to make the cut there was still anger at the decision.

Playing partner Ben Crenshaw was the first to hit out at the decision, arguing everyone was playing slowly as the wind whipped up at Augusta. And commentator Colin Montgomerie said the call should not have happened on a Friday when the entire field was taking time to adjust to the swirling winds.

Players are expected to hit their shot within 40 seconds but usually those who flout that rule are hit with a fine.

There hasn’t been a one-stroke penalty in a PGA Tour event since Glen Day in 1995 but slow play has become a priority for golf’s rulers in the past year.

But there was criticism for seemingly picking on an easy target by making an example of a youngster making his debut on the Major stage. Guan said: “I respect the decision they make but I think they should do it with respect to everybody.

“I don’t know what the other players were doing but I don’t think I’m too bad. Today was pretty hard because you make a decision and then the wind switches a lot.

“I was a little bit emotional on the 17th green after they told me and I didn’t make that par putt. But on the 18th I think I did a pretty good job.”